Chris Cornell lives on, through his music (even if its on cable) and the tears of local residents:
— As news of the circumstances behind Chris Cornell’s death spreads, I know of multiple instances where a bartender friend — representing both downtown Hudson and North Hudson — said a friend of theirs was moved to tears by his passing, at the same time as local musicians say they are quickly learning his darker songs as a tribute (see below). And another friend said she initially had her reservations about Cornell’s band, Soundgadten, like myself, but that changed when she got to know him. And, as the irony continues, I couldn’t help but notice that the late singer for Soundgarden, Audioslave and Temple of the Dog was the one who composed the deliciously dark but short on “the days” music for part of a recent around-the-clock cable TV Bond-athon. His music was noteworthy on the most recently-portrayed version of that hero, the Daniel Craig-based character, as he competing with tunes played on the jukebox, as The World Is Not Enough. (It also showed a particular James, his predecessor, being interrogated by a Bond girl, Electra, who has an amazing resemblance to a former prominent-model/bartender-at-Pudges — filmed around the years she was putting in her shifts. But that tidbit about she of long and lovely straight dark hair, Bree Burgy, is for another story. Bree is from northern Wisconsin, initially, so the skiing scene where they meet as James is chased by bombers fits. Also fitting from my days with the Hudson Star-Observer was handling (editing?) a wedding announcement for none other than a local man by the name of — you guessed it — James Bond. It seems someone bagged the ultimate bachelor.
— Can I get an appetizer on the side? The “shoot zombie does” deer hunting game at local bars has added some new twists and turns, in particular firing at frogs sliding down a zip-line by their tongues. The game even says if you’re short on cash, you can pay by credit card. All for an updated version of a pinball game? (The gist is that if you’ve spent your paper money on booze, you can always put an order of frog legs on the tab, to make it worth the while.) Just kidding. And the game can even have you shoot a group of Venus Fly Traps, complete with big tongues, although that isn’t appetizing at all. Despite that, the Pierce County players of this national game have come up big, according to the machine’s lsiting.
— Seen at the entryway to the Buffalo Wild Wings parking lot, were the missing lighted letters to the Citizens State Bank sign, meaning that it read simply Zen’s Bank. In light of all the celeb sightings we have in Hudson, does that mean that famed NBA coach Phil Jackson will be visiting soon?
— Another sign, this one at Dairy Queen that was glowing into the night, had letters juggled sideways rather than being straight-on when advertising their corn dogs. Makes one think of the band Korn, and how they might spell out such a pitch.
— The annual golf tournament at Dick’s Bar and Grill offered a lot of amenities for its $65 a person entry fee, among them “brat, chips and a pickle on the course (of course).” It you took with you three hotties to round out the four person scramble format, and promised them steak and lobster, you just might be in a pickle (or well worth it).